Hard To Love (2 page)

Warmth surrounded her when he wrapped her in his arms, as he walked her to the door and unlocked it. Why did she feel more for this stranger than she ever did the man she married? Yes, he was arrogant and cocky, but there was something about him she couldn’t resist. Even though he was young, he had a dominance about him she couldn’t defy. Although she knew she was older than Carter, she had an overwhelming urge to submit to him. Ella knew she wanted to feel his hands on her, wanted to taste him on her tongue and feel him deep inside her. Derek had destroyed their vows. In her mind it was over, she was a single woman again.

Ella held her breath as Carter closed the door and she heard the lock click behind her. Carter laid his keys on the table by the door before turning her to face him.

“So, you want to tell me why you’re so sad tonight?” he asked, rubbing his thumb over her bottom lip.

“I caught my husband screwing a whore in my bed today.”

“Well, he’s a damned idiot,” he whispered, lowering his head, his lips so close she could feel the heat of his breath against her own.

“Carter, I…” before she could finish her thought, he attacked her mouth with his assaulting lips.

Forcing her lips open with his tongue, he explored her mouth in an exotic dance, taking her breath away. A throaty growl escaped him as he released her bruised lips.

“Sweetheart, if you want me to stop, you need to tell me now,” he strained, grinding the bulge behind his zipper against her stomach.

“No, don’t stop,” Ella said breathlessly. She may regret this in the morning, but right now this was exactly what she needed and she was going to enjoy the moment. Grabbing Carter’s belt buckle, she began unbuckling it, undoing his button and zipper. She took his swollen cock in her hands, skimming her fingernails down the veiny length of it and back to the head again. He was much bigger than Derek ever dreamed of being.

“I want to taste you Carter,” Ella breathed, as she licked the pre-cum off her thumb. His pupils dilated with heat and feral desire. Dropping to her knees, she circled the purple head of his manhood with her tongue, humming as she did.

Wrapping her long hair around his fist, Carter pulled her head back, demanding her eyes on his. “You want me to fuck that dirty mouth of yours, sweetness?” he growled.

“Yes,” she pleaded.

“Tell me,” he demanded.

“Fuck my mouth, Carter. Let me taste you.”

Thrusting his cock in her mouth, he felt her immediately take him to the back of her throat. Carter froze for a minute, relishing in the feel of Ella’s warm mouth around his dick. Brilliant green eyes looked up at him, as his cock slid in out of her mouth, and her cheeks hollowed with every stroke.

“Jesus woman, that feels amazing.”

Fisting her hair tighter, he began pumping into her mouth. Ella sucked him hard, franticly, like her life depended on it. His musky smell invaded her nostrils like an aphrodisiac, causing her to swirl her tongue around the head before taking him to the back of her throat again. Feeling him lengthen even more in her mouth, she began rubbing his balls between her fingers until she felt the sticky saltiness slide down the back of her throat. Carter stilled as he yelled out a string of swear words.

“Sweet Jesus! That’s the best damn blow job I’ve ever had,” he praised, pulling her up into his arms. “I knew that dirty mouth was good for something.”

Grabbing both her wrists in one hand, he drug her down the hall to his bedroom.

“Strip and get on all fours. I’m gonna fuck you so good, you’ll be craving my dick for a decade.”

Chapter Two

SIX YEARS LATER…

Ella was sitting at a table sipping a glass of wine, listening to the sound of Carter Dawson’s smooth voice. It had been six years since she had spent the night with him. And an amazing night at that, one she still couldn’t get out of her head.

“Ella, can I tell you again how great of a job you did,” Alana praised. Alana Hatfield was a friend and Ella’s first client.

Alana and her new fiancé, Logan Montgomery, had just invested in Alana’s uncle’s beach hotel. Now, a huge add-on pavilion sat adjacent to the hotel’s pool, intended for parties, weddings and other events. This was their opening night to show it off. Ella was planning and promoting events on her own now, and had done a fabulous job on their engagement party. Small tables and chairs aligned the rails with white linen and hurricane lamps lit up the middle of each table. It was very romantic.

Alana went on to tell Ella that she could use the pavilion as a place to host a benefit for her sister’s horse rescue. It was such a generous offer, and Ella couldn’t wait to tell her sister Liv about their good fortune. Then she suggested Carter as the performer.
UGH.!

Carter Dawson
. That was one person Ella did her best to dodge. Ever since she had walked in on her cheating husband, and woke up in Carter’s arms the next morning, she avoided him like the plague. She had gathered her clothes as fast as she could, running for the door and hadn’t looked back since. She was finished with men.
All men
, especially Carter. He’d always been sexy, but now, he was drop dead gorgeous. Tall and muscular, with a broad back, big arms and thick wrists and forearms. Delicious shivers ran through her just thinking of him.

“You thinking about me, beautiful?” a deep voice asked.
Yes, oh yes I am.

“Ugh. You wish Carter,” she lied. “Don’t you have some young fangirl to be chasing or something?” she snapped.

“I don’t chase anybody. I don’t need to. Why do you keep avoiding me?” Even his voice radiated heat. Sitting down next to her at the table, the scent of soap and leather drifted up her nose, reminding her of the night they spent together. Currents of electricity shot straight to her core, causing moisture to pool in her panties.

Avoiding his question, she turned her head to watch the ocean sunset, sipping her glass of red wine. Strong fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to make eye contact.

“Carter, get your damn hands off me,” she demanded, trying to pull from his grasp. More liquid heat pooled between her legs. She loved the dominant side of him, that’s one thing she had never forgotten. Who was she kidding? She remembered every single detail about him.

“Nope, not until you tell me your problem,” he smirked.

“Why do you care anyway?” she asked, finally jerking herself from his grip.

“Because, for years now you’ve skated around me, giving me dirty looks and hiding behind corners.”

“You’re crazy,” she rolled her eyes.

“Am I? Do you still get wet thinking of me fucking you, with my tongue, my fingers, my
cock
?” Grazing her hand with his index finger, she felt the heat coming off his body. “Cause I sure remember your mouth wrapped around my dick.”

Yanking her hand away, her cheeks flushed crimson. “You’ve grown into a real ass, haven’t you?”

Carter chuckled. “I still get under your skin. I see the goose bumps on your arms, your nipples hardening for me.” Moving closer to her neck, he inhaled deeply. “Mmm, I smell your arousal, Ella.”

“Screw you, Carter.” she grated between clenched teeth.

“That’s it, baby. Talk dirty to me, I love that dirty mouth of yours,” he said with a twinkle in his eyes.

That was it. He was not going to get the best of her. “Actually, all I remember is a little boy monkeying around, trying to figure out which end was up.”

Surprised, Carter laughed out loud. “Is that all you remember? Because I remember you screaming my name, over and over again. As a matter of fact, you were screaming so loud, it woke my neighbors.” He grabbed her chin again. “And baby, I’ve only gotten better.”

“Get over yourself Carter.” Jerking loose, Ella shot from her chair, stomping off.

Oh, that man infuriated her. Why did she let him get under her skin so bad? Feeling him watching her stomp off, she looked over her shoulder, and saw his smug grin. Raising the glass of wine she left sitting on the table and toasting her, he downed the burgundy drink, and winked.
Asshole
! This is why she avoided him.
Cocky son-of-a-bitch
, she thought to herself. She must’ve been really drunk the night she spent in his bed. As far away from Carter Dawson as she could is where she needed to stay. But, he was right. That night had been a night she still dreamed about.
Damn him!

Watching Ella run from him had Carter hard as steel. He loved the thrill of the chase. Still remembering the taste of her on his tongue and the feel of her soft skin against him just made it that much more intriguing. She was such a beautiful lady. Long mahogany colored hair flowed down her tanned back, and she had piercing green eyes that could see through to his soul.
Oh yeah
, he was going to show her what kind of a man he had grown into. Carter wanted nothing more than to show her his wicked desires.

Never in her life had she been so pissed off and turned on at the same time. Her body betrayed her, humming at the memories of their one night of passion playing through her mind. Not paying attention to where she was walking, she smacked right into Becky’s boy toy, Dusty Richards, causing him to spill his beer down his shirt.

“Damn girl, your ass on fire or something?” he laughed, wiping the beer off the front of his shirt.

“Oh my god! Dusty, I’m so sorry,” she apologized, helping him wipe up the mess.

“No biggie. What set your panties on fire?”

Looking back toward the empty table where she had left Carter sitting, she said flatly, “Nothing.”

“Nothing huh? Okay, if you say so. I’ll catch you later,” he said, shaking his head and walking away.

Damn, damn, damn! Carter freaking Dawson.
Growling, she pushed the door to the ladies room open, needing to splash water on her overheated body. She gripped the edge of the counter as she closed her eyes and took deep breaths to calm her wrecked nerves. That man had done a number on her, which had started six years ago. Hearing the door open, she turned to see Carter locking the deadbolt lock.

A shocked gasp escaped her lips. “Carter, what the hell?”

In two steps Carter closed the gap between them, grabbing her hips, he pushed her up against the counter. The heat from his chest radiated against her back.

“I like it when you run from me, sweetness,” he whispered in her ear, wrapping his hands around her throat. “Do you feel how much I like it?” Grinding his hips against her ass, Carter rubbed his hard as steel erection against her.

Ella whimpered. “Why are you doing this, Carter?”

“Oh, I think you know why. I never forgot the feel of your pulse quickening under my fingers. You want me, I can feel it.”

Catching his predatory gaze in the mirror, her mouth become suddenly dry, and her brain quit working. Seeing their reflection in the mirror, with his large tanned hand with long fingers wrapped around her throat, was sensual and exhilarating. Ella’s breaths came in short pants now, her chest rising and falling, but she refused to answer his question.

“I’ve never forgotten how you taste either, Ella,” he said breathily, running his hand down the back of her short black skirt, over the curve of her bottom. He ran his hand under her skirt, up her thighs and past her panties, finding her soaked entrance. Thrusting two large fingers inside her opening, Carter bit down on her shoulder. Ella cried out loudly from the frisson of sensations he was sending through her body.

“Carter, please,” she begged, as a thunderstorm of desire erupted through her body.

“Please what? What do you want, sweetness?” he gruffly whispered, pumping his fingers in and out of her.

Closing her eyes, her mind went numb and she couldn’t form words. The hatred she felt just minutes ago was quickly vanishing with each pulse of his fingers. Her eyes snapped open as he abruptly slid his fingers out, leaving her wanting so much more. She watched as he sucked her juices from his middle finger.

“Mmm, just like I remembered. Sweet honey,” he moaned. Clutching her chin, he rubbed his index finger across her bottom lip. Ella smelled her own arousal on his finger, making her ache that much more.

“Open,” he demanded.

Doing as she was told, Ella opened her mouth, as he slipped his index finger between her lips, swirling it on her tongue. She could taste her saltiness on his finger. This was the most erotic moment of her life.

“See, kitten? Sweet honey,” he whispered.

Someone picked that moment to knock on the door, disrupting their heated moment. Carter glared at her with lust filled eyes, twisting her face towards his, as he crashed into her mouth in a heated kiss. Releasing her quickly, he winked before unlocking the door and walking away. Ella shook her head, trying to shake herself from his love trance.
Damn him!
A businesswoman, in charge of her own life, she had been through hell and back, and didn’t take orders from anyone. Yet, she couldn’t tell this man no. What in the hell was wrong with her?

Embarrassment flushed her neck and cheeks, as Alana’s Aunt Penny entered the restroom. Trying to avert eye contact, Ella turned on the cold water and grabbed a paper towel from the dispenser.

“Are you okay dear? You look a little flushed.” Penny asked with humor in her voice.

“Yes ma’am,” she replied with a shaky voice.

“That Carter Dawson is something else, isn’t he?”

“He’s something, alright.” Disgusted with herself for letting him get to her,
again
, she threw the paper towel in the garbage and stormed out of the restroom.
Asshole!
She needed to get the hell out of here before another encounter with Carter. Next time, she may not be able to control her raging sexual cravings that short-circuited her brain every time he was near.

The desire for him had been there since the night they met, lying dormant. Staying far away from him over the years had helped keep that impulse at bay, but now, now he had unfurled it. Now what did she do?

Making her way to Alana and Logan, she made the excuse of not feeling well, and said her goodbyes.

“Hey girl, you okay?” Becky stopped her to ask.